4 ms·

Why isn't this a Web page? Sidenote: I want to get started with wood working, can anyone recommend a resource?

by hendry 2y ago

JKCalhoun 2y ago
That's a pretty broad statement. Do you own any woodworking tools? Do you want to make furniture or do you want to make decorative pens on a lathe? How new to it are you? I started with just a circular saw and a drill (would not now recommend [1]) and bought "handy panels" from the local big box store to make crappy book cases and such. I was very much demonstrating the aesthetic of the School of College-Dorm. Eventually I got a table saw and started making MAME cabinets, dance pads, etc. When I eventually started seeking out better quality plywood I began to make things like speaker enclosures (and better looking book cases). I was getting into woodworking when television was still a thing so Norm Abram's "New Yankee Workshop" on PBS was my inspiration. Not only is a lot of that on YouTube now [2], but so too are hundreds of others uploading videos on woodworking. We live in a rich time when it comes to hobby how-to videos. I think of YouTube sometimes more as inspiration ... where I want to get to. For example I like Paul Seller's videos [3] where he makes everything more or less with hand tools. Ishitani Furniture [4] is my where I wish I were. But if videos are not your thing, archive.org is back and their Magazine Rack [5] has plenty of magazines on woodworking. Just look around. [1] Forget the circular saw unless you're doing hime construction. Opt for an inexpensive "panel saw" instead — and also an 8' sheet of 1-inch-thick insulating foam to put down underneath the wood you'll be cutting on the floor of your basement or driveway. [2] https://www.youtube.com/@newyankeeworkshop https://www.youtube.com/@newyankeeworkshop [3] https://www.youtube.com/@Paul.Sellers https://www.youtube.com/@Paul.Sellers [4] https://www.youtube.com/@ISHITANIFURNITURE https://www.youtube.com/@ISHITANIFURNITURE [5] https://archive.org/details/magazine_rack https://archive.org/details/magazine_rack
- criddell 2y ago
  What are the big differentiators between a circular saw and panel saw? I’m just getting into this stuff myself and have been using a circular saw and a Kreg track/guide system.
  - lemonberry 2y ago
    I own Kreg's track saw and table. It's great if you're doing a lot of sheet cutting. But if you're just getting started I'd recommend a regular circular saw. You can always clamp a straight board or level to a sheet to simulate a track. A couple of tips: You'll need a lot of clamps. Don't spend much money on tools until you know what you're going to build. It's really easy to get caught up in precision and having everything cut perfectly. This is important in finish work, but for everyday stuff you don't need to worry about it. If using hand tools is of any interest to you, I highly recommend the Anarchist's Design Book, Anarchist's Tool Chest. All by Christopher Schwarz and available from his press Lost Art Press. I discovered them via a comment here a few years back. His basic philosophy is woodworking for regular people to make stuff that are going to last and usable. Lost Art Press' website has a lot of book samples and full books in PDF form. It's worth checking out. Good luck!
    - JKCalhoun 2y ago
      I think a Kreg track saw is a better place to start than a circular saw. I think the cleaner, more precise cuts you get with the track saw will help encourage a new woodworker.
      - criddell 2y ago
        What I have is a circular saw (specifically a Skilsaw). There’s a sled that you clamp on for use on the Kreg tracks. When I have it set up like that, is it similar to what I could do with a panel saw?
        JKCalhoun 2y ago
        More or less. A panel saw combined with the track it is intended for will have often have a "zero clearance" strip along the track to prevent a lot of the wood being torn up when cutting. So, nicer cuts. For me, having the sled "built-in" on a true panel saw makes for a less awkward experience using the tool. It would be one thing if I went back and forth between using the circular saw and the panel saw but I truly haven't touched my circular saw in maybe ten years now.
mft_ 2y ago
Try Steve Ramsey: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBB7sYb14uBtk8UqSQYc9-w https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBB7sYb14uBtk8UqSQYc9-w He's got a very nice approachable style (almost the Bob Ross of woodworking?) and has some great beginner videos, including guidance on which tools to prioritise (and deprioritise) at the start of the hobby. He also sells a course with plans for gradually increasingly challenging projects. No affiliation, just watched a lot of his videos when I was first getting started with woodworking. There are also (as you'd expect) thousands of other Youtubers doing woodwork, too. Steve's just a great starting place.
giarc 2y ago
Join a Makerspace (if you have one near you). Getting started with woodworking can be tough if you don't have the right tools. A makerspace likely gives you access to thousands of dollars worth of tools for the fraction of the price. It also likely has lots of people with more experience that are willing to help you learn.
12thhandyman 2y ago
I recommend you visit a forum called diychatroom.com for more relevant discussion

Why isn't this a Web page? Sidenote: I want to get started with wood working, can anyone recommend a resource?

by hendry 2y ago

Why isn't this a Web page? Sidenote: I want to get started with wood working, can anyone recommend a resource?

That's a pretty broad statement. Do you own any woodworking tools? Do you want to make furniture or do you want to make decorative pens on a lathe? How new to it are you? I started with just a circular saw and a drill (would not now recommend [1]) and bought "handy panels" from the local big box store to make crappy book cases and such. I was very much demonstrating the aesthetic of the School of College-Dorm. Eventually I got a table saw and started making MAME cabinets, dance pads, etc. When I eventually started seeking out better quality plywood I began to make things like speaker enclosures (and better looking book cases). I was getting into woodworking when television was still a thing so Norm Abram's "New Yankee Workshop" on PBS was my inspiration. Not only is a lot of that on YouTube now [2], but so too are hundreds of others uploading videos on woodworking. We live in a rich time when it comes to hobby how-to videos. I think of YouTube sometimes more as inspiration ... where I want to get to. For example I like Paul Seller's videos [3] where he makes everything more or less with hand tools. Ishitani Furniture [4] is my where I wish I were. But if videos are not your thing, archive.org is back and their Magazine Rack [5] has plenty of magazines on woodworking. Just look around. [1] Forget the circular saw unless you're doing hime construction. Opt for an inexpensive "panel saw" instead — and also an 8' sheet of 1-inch-thick insulating foam to put down underneath the wood you'll be cutting on the floor of your basement or driveway. [2] https://www.youtube.com/@newyankeeworkshop https://www.youtube.com/@newyankeeworkshop [3] https://www.youtube.com/@Paul.Sellers https://www.youtube.com/@Paul.Sellers [4] https://www.youtube.com/@ISHITANIFURNITURE https://www.youtube.com/@ISHITANIFURNITURE [5] https://archive.org/details/magazine_rack https://archive.org/details/magazine_rack

criddell 2y ago
What are the big differentiators between a circular saw and panel saw? I’m just getting into this stuff myself and have been using a circular saw and a Kreg track/guide system.
- lemonberry 2y ago
  I own Kreg's track saw and table. It's great if you're doing a lot of sheet cutting. But if you're just getting started I'd recommend a regular circular saw. You can always clamp a straight board or level to a sheet to simulate a track. A couple of tips: You'll need a lot of clamps. Don't spend much money on tools until you know what you're going to build. It's really easy to get caught up in precision and having everything cut perfectly. This is important in finish work, but for everyday stuff you don't need to worry about it. If using hand tools is of any interest to you, I highly recommend the Anarchist's Design Book, Anarchist's Tool Chest. All by Christopher Schwarz and available from his press Lost Art Press. I discovered them via a comment here a few years back. His basic philosophy is woodworking for regular people to make stuff that are going to last and usable. Lost Art Press' website has a lot of book samples and full books in PDF form. It's worth checking out. Good luck!
  - JKCalhoun 2y ago
    I think a Kreg track saw is a better place to start than a circular saw. I think the cleaner, more precise cuts you get with the track saw will help encourage a new woodworker.
    - criddell 2y ago
      What I have is a circular saw (specifically a Skilsaw). There’s a sled that you clamp on for use on the Kreg tracks. When I have it set up like that, is it similar to what I could do with a panel saw?
      - JKCalhoun 2y ago
        More or less. A panel saw combined with the track it is intended for will have often have a "zero clearance" strip along the track to prevent a lot of the wood being torn up when cutting. So, nicer cuts. For me, having the sled "built-in" on a true panel saw makes for a less awkward experience using the tool. It would be one thing if I went back and forth between using the circular saw and the panel saw but I truly haven't touched my circular saw in maybe ten years now.

mft_ 2y ago

Try Steve Ramsey: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBB7sYb14uBtk8UqSQYc9-w https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBB7sYb14uBtk8UqSQYc9-w He's got a very nice approachable style (almost the Bob Ross of woodworking?) and has some great beginner videos, including guidance on which tools to prioritise (and deprioritise) at the start of the hobby. He also sells a course with plans for gradually increasingly challenging projects. No affiliation, just watched a lot of his videos when I was first getting started with woodworking. There are also (as you'd expect) thousands of other Youtubers doing woodwork, too. Steve's just a great starting place.

giarc 2y ago

Join a Makerspace (if you have one near you). Getting started with woodworking can be tough if you don't have the right tools. A makerspace likely gives you access to thousands of dollars worth of tools for the fraction of the price. It also likely has lots of people with more experience that are willing to help you learn.

12thhandyman 2y ago

I recommend you visit a forum called diychatroom.com for more relevant discussion